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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Decent old P&S to replace SLR?
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01/13/2009 05:54:37 PM · #1
Hi folks, just looking for a bit of advice. Due to changing priorities in my life and the rather hefty amount of work I'm having to do these days, I just don't have time for photography and can no longer justify holding onto my 30D and lenses, especially when their sale can help me a lot financially.

But letting go of the SLR will make me camera-less which won't do at all so I need to find a fixed-lens camera on the cheap - something I can pick up on ebay pretty cheaply. I'm looking for accessible manual controls and a decent zoom. RAW would be nice, but I'm guessing that's pretty optimistic! The choice is so massive, I was wondering if anyone here had any recommendations?

Thanks in advance! :)

Message edited by author 2009-01-13 17:55:43.
01/13/2009 06:03:01 PM · #2
the powershot g-series comes to mind. but just to let you know, my 30d was stolen in october and i replaced it with a used one off of ebay for just $375 two weeks ago. its not at all scratched and doesnt have more than 20,000 actuations. Point and shoot cameras are now similar in price to older slr bodies
01/13/2009 06:31:48 PM · #3
The Canon G9 or G10 (I think that's the latest) give almost the same level of control as a DSLR. They both have RAW as well. I have the G7, which has everything but RAW.
01/13/2009 06:33:06 PM · #4
Canon PowerShot A620 is a good little P&S.

Here it is on amazon.

Message edited by author 2009-01-13 18:34:53.
01/13/2009 06:55:31 PM · #5
Hi, sorry you have to sell. I can recommend the Panasonic Lumix FZ series with more than decent zoom. Some of them have RAW or TIFF. All manual controls, though the FZ5 lacks manual focus. I saw an FZ 10 recently for sale for $150 Canadian on Craigslist, and was tempted because mine just died, only it has no RAW; however I have noticed that the jpegs on it are better than the FZ 5's which even if you turn down the sharpening etc leave not much room for pp. The best of the older ones, FZ 30 and FZ 50, don't appear very often, and may command a price. The older Canon powershot G's aren't bad either, particularly the G5 and G6 which come up for sale quite reasonably and have manual controls, remote shutter, and flip out screens. You just won't get the responsiveness and speed and low light IQ with any of the older models, although I find the FZ5 pretty snappy. Might check dpreview.com. Good luck.
01/13/2009 07:00:38 PM · #6
I have one of these Kodak cams. Really nice.
//www.amazon.com/Kodak-EasyShare-12-0MP-Digital-Optical/dp/B00127Y3SA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1231891102&sr=1-5
01/13/2009 09:04:25 PM · #7
Canon G9 & G10 are SLR-like in features, have RAW and full manual as well as full auto, and some nifty features. A used G9 or a new G10 is worth a look. I have both, and love them.

The G9 has a timelapse mode, face recognition, etc. The G10 has dropped the timelapse, wider angle lens, more megapixels (and a slightly shorter zoom range), and has a self-timer upgrade which will trigger when the camera sees a new face join the scene (no more push and run/scramble!)

Friends saw my G9 and went out get one, others saw it and went out to get one, but found the G10 instead :-)

They all love whichever one they got. I got the g10, my wife loves the G9.

I think nearly all of the shots here were done with my g9, minimally post-processed.

Message edited by author 2009-01-13 21:08:28.
01/13/2009 09:07:49 PM · #8
I can also recommend the Powershot S5. Out of the box it only does JPG, but can do RAW if you use the open source CHDK hack.
01/13/2009 09:39:32 PM · #9
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

The Canon G9 or G10 (I think that's the latest) give almost the same level of control as a DSLR. They both have RAW as well. I have the G7, which has everything but RAW.


Definitely the Canon G9 or G10.

Like someone else said, the 30D bodies don't cost that much these days, so you could just keep that and a kits lens and sell everything else and call it good.
01/13/2009 09:47:52 PM · #10
Pro 815
Ribbon winner

Message edited by author 2009-01-13 21:48:56.
01/13/2009 10:40:06 PM · #11
Love my Olympus C-7000. And still love it, even though I recently upgraded. It's discontinued so it could be had pretty cheaply, I would guess. Feature packed, consistent results and damn rugged (believe me!).

ETA: It has manual controls, RAW capability, and 5X zoom.

Message edited by author 2009-01-13 22:41:03.
01/14/2009 12:47:55 AM · #12
What is your budget?
01/14/2009 02:00:14 AM · #13
Originally posted by TCGuru:

Canon PowerShot A620 is a good little P&S.

Here it is on amazon.


I'll second that. Took the best portrait of my life with it:


Then again, I've also done well with the Canon S2 IS.
01/14/2009 08:39:40 AM · #14
Wow, thanks for all the replies. I will definitely have a look at the Powershot G series, and the Panansonics have caught my eye as well. I'll have a fish around on ebay and see what I can find - though anything over about £100 (about $145 these days) is going to be too much. Will keep you updated!
01/14/2009 11:22:33 AM · #15
What about a Canon 10D or 300D?
01/14/2009 04:04:52 PM · #16
Originally posted by Foolish Ice:

What about a Canon 10D or 300D?


I considered it but in practice, what I'd get with a trusty old P&S (i.e. f/2.8 at wide end and 7-10x zoom) would be very expensive in SLR lens terms. Having shot with some nice glass I wouldn't be content with the kit lens, and would also struggle to kick the lens habit!

The Canon S3IS is a real possibility - I'd miss RAW but could cope without it - can anyone say if the camera is easy to use in Av mode?
01/14/2009 05:42:24 PM · #17
I seem to recall seeing a software hack that lets certain Canon P&S cameras shoot RAW.
01/15/2009 01:59:58 PM · #18
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 has been getting very good reviews. Full manual controls, RAW, F/2-2.8, 24-60mm lens.

//www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/

-Chad

EDIT: sorry, it doesn't have a very long zoom.

Message edited by author 2009-01-15 14:00:37.
01/15/2009 02:15:02 PM · #19
I love my G9. It provides excellent photos in RAW - comparable in quality to my 20D and L lenses - and it's very portable.

The videos are also very good in quality, though I have to convert them later before posting online.
01/15/2009 03:07:58 PM · #20
If you go the route of Canon you can always get RAW support by using CHDK.

EDIT: Woops, Foolish Ice already mentioned it, minus the name.

Message edited by author 2009-01-15 15:08:49.
01/15/2009 07:33:24 PM · #21
Originally posted by Anti-Martyr:

If you go the route of Canon you can always get RAW support by using CHDK.

EDIT: Woops, Foolish Ice already mentioned it, minus the name.


Ah, now that's something I'd find useful - thanks for the info. I just saw an S3 IS go on ebay for less than £100 - I'll keep my eye out for the G7 as well - more expensive I'm sure but it's got a control wheel like on my 30D!
01/15/2009 07:52:22 PM · #22
I've just stumbled across the Panny DMC-FZ20 - I know it's pretty old-school but seriously, 36-432mm at constant f/2.8? Wow!
01/15/2009 08:11:58 PM · #23
Originally posted by figaro:

I've just stumbled across the Panny DMC-FZ20 - I know it's pretty old-school but seriously, 36-432mm at constant f/2.8? Wow!


hmmmmm //www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz20/

lots of good stuff, but 5MP and noisy images above ISO 100....

hmmmm...
01/15/2009 09:09:10 PM · #24
It's a trade off: excellent lens plus excellent zoom at the expense of noise in low light. If I remember correctly you once had a the classic low light Fuji, the F30, in addition to your DSLR, so the noise just might be confounding. (Certainly the FZ10 was a problem above ISO 100, and I mostly shot at ISO 50). Question of your desiderata. But don't forget, it also has TIFF, and all the manual options. Good luck again.
01/16/2009 05:55:47 AM · #25
Originally posted by tnun:

It's a trade off: excellent lens plus excellent zoom at the expense of noise in low light. If I remember correctly you once had a the classic low light Fuji, the F30, in addition to your DSLR, so the noise just might be confounding. (Certainly the FZ10 was a problem above ISO 100, and I mostly shot at ISO 50). Question of your desiderata. But don't forget, it also has TIFF, and all the manual options. Good luck again.


Yes you're right about the F30 - in hindsight I might have done better to hang onto it but it wasn't getting used. Right now though I need something with a good zoom that's going to be used mostly in low-light. 5MP doesn't worry me, but I wonder how much I'll miss 28mm at the wide end. Hmmmm. Ideally I'd get the FZ18 but it's out of my price range I'm afraid!
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